Six races remain in a season where Max Verstappen and Red Bull have dominated the field. The only driver who has shown the potential to challenge this trend is Carlos Sainz. He secured his first win of the year and second of his Formula 1 career in Singapore. Speaking at an event organized by his sponsor, the Madrid-born driver reflected on nine years in the World Championship and his three seasons with Ferrari. Sainz said he feels valued by Ferrari’s leadership, confirmed the team is his priority, and dismissed any notion of a strict top-two hierarchy with Charles Leclerc. He also indicated that a contract renewal would likely be decided this winter. He added, after the season concludes, there will be a quiet four-month window to discuss terms.
Looking ahead at the rest of the season, Sainz said the main objective is clear: to finish second in the constructors’ standings. He noted that points have slipped away to Mercedes in recent races, and there is a belief that the gap could be narrowed further. On a personal level, the goal remains to maximize performances with the current car, and whenever another podium chance arises, the team will try to capitalize, though predicting further top results is difficult with the package at hand.
He admitted the SF-23 is not the dream car he had prepared for in the pre-season, aiming for a title challenge. After the initial test, it became apparent that winning the championship would be tough. He acknowledged discomfort with both last year’s machine and the present car. Yet his experience helped him adapt, and over time the improvements showed. Still, he acknowledged that Red Bull’s advantage is substantial and not easily overcome.
From his vantage point, Sainz has watched Ferrari’s crew work diligently to refine the package during the year, with small upgrades making a difference. He emphasized that Red Bull’s strength makes the difference for him; without their dominance, Ferrari could have enjoyed a more balanced and entertaining season alongside teams like Aston Martin, McLaren, and Mercedes at similar levels. He stressed that the drivers are closely matched inside Ferrari, which he believes is a valuable asset for the team, and pushed back on any insinuations of favoritism or a persistent Leclerc-versus-Sainz narrative.
According to Sainz, team principal Frederic Vasseur is a capable leader and strategist. He believes the relationship with Leclerc is professional and that there has been no favoritism this season. If there were concerns, he would speak openly with the management. The priority remains the team and Ferrari as a whole, with no declared top and bottom driver status. Sainz also noted his current contract runs through 2024, and renewal talks would come in due course. He made clear that the World Cup schedule and travel made immediate negotiations impractical, and a four-month winter pause could provide a calm window to reach an agreement. He did not expect Singapore’s victory to automatically alter when an extension would be decided, stating that a strong run can ease negotiations, but that success alone rarely dictates terms.
Despite the strong rival, Sainz reflected that the presence of Verstappen and his teammate Norris are among the sport’s brightest young talents. He asserted that his value comes from the respect of those inside F1, within the Ferrari camp, and among rival teams. If he felt undervalued, he would not remain with Ferrari, he insisted.
On Verstappen, who has ridden a dominant run toward a third title, Sainz said it would be naive to credit the success solely to the car. He argued that Verstappen has benefited from a highly competitive package but has also made strategic decisions that reduce the risk of error. Singapore showed that even a margin can be lost through strategy or setup missteps, yet a large margin minimizes overall risk.
Looking ahead to the season’s conclusion in Japan, Sainz noted that Ferrari will shift focus toward next year’s challenger, which is already in the wind tunnel. The expectation is a car born from high hopes, with the team keen to close the gap on Red Bull, which seems two years ahead in the current cycle. The plan is to identify what works and what does not, then apply lessons to the new car. If one team has shown resilience, it is Ferrari, ready to respond and adapt as needed.
Sainz also stressed that Red Bull’s domination does not spoil Formula 1. The sport remains unpredictable, shaped by weather and other variables. History has shown periods of superiority by single teams, with moments of parity returning in time. The sport’s vitality, he believes, endures regardless of which outfit leads the pack.
Among the six remaining events, Sainz highlighted Las Vegas as the biggest unknown, given its likely urban layout and unfamiliar circuit characteristics. He hopes to extract performance from the setup there. He sees potential in Mexico and Austin but anticipates tougher conditions in Qatar, while acknowledging that the season’s end will demand consistent focus and strong execution across the board.
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